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Rajon Rondo is a crucial part of the Celtics' championship hopes this postseason. That's why losing the two-time All-Star for a Game 2 showdown in Atlanta is devastating to Doc Rivers' team.

The NBA handed Rondo a one-game suspension Monday for making contact with official Marc Davis toward the end of Boston's Game 1 loss to the Hawks on Sunday night. Any contact with an NBA official is an ejectable and often suspendable offense under league rules, which is why Rondo is doing time for his "bump."

Rondo's absence from the Celtics lineup will make an already thin backcourt even more vulnerable, as Ray Allen continues to sit with an apparent ankle injury. Allen's ailing ankle has forced him to miss 16 of the Celtics' past 21 games, including the last 10 straight.

Without Rondo or Allen, who remains doubtful for Tuesday's Game 2, the Celtics will likely turn to a combination of Keyon Dooling, Mickael Pietrus and Marquis Daniels to help ease the unrest in the Boston backcourt.